What Are You Doing New year's Eve?

I don't know how you plan on bidding farewell to the old year and ringing in the new....

Ah, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve? 1

If your plans don't include a decadent chocolate concoction (or two) and me, as bells wildly clang and horns emphatically blare and confetti is jubilantly tossed about and fireworks dance across the sky, think of me....

For auld lang syne, my friend,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne! 2

You know, I really think I'll have a blue [moon] without you! 3



*Sigh* Don't you just sometimes wish everyone else could sing along to the soundtrack of your life?

1 - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
2 - Auld Lang Syne
3 - Blue Christmas

"The Long-Promised Day" from Keepa

Inasmuch as this is the fulness of times and through Abraham’s seed all mankind may be blessed is there no blessing for me?

- Jane Manning

Read the full text of this illuminating article by Ardis Parshall at Keepapitchinin.

!

Merry Christmas!

And There Were.... Shepherds Abiding In The Field....

Where in the Bible does it mention that after the angel proclaimed glad tidings to the shepherds (who fussed over who got to walk beside Barbie as they hurried to Bethlehem) she ended up in the swing at the playground?

Inspired By The Beatles?

Just last night, I happened to be driving to the church with a Beehive* in my car. This is a song we were listening to (well, she was listening - I was 16 again and singin' along with the radio):



My abecedarian companion looked at the radio, turned her head to me, and asked, "Is this the Beatles?"

*Beehive - the designated name for 12- and 13- year-old-girls within the LDS Church's Young Women Program; a group of girls devoid of exposure to musical hit-makers whose heyday was in the 80's.

Who Doesn't Love Craigslist?

Thanks For All The Joy They're Bringin'

This is the last day of the Attitude of Gratitude Challenge. My blessings certainly exceed three per day, but I have to admit that the daily posting requirement for one entire month was kind of hard. I think the difficulty came mostly from the time required to compose each post. Thinking each day about so many wonderful things in my life was much easier - even on those hard-to-decide-what-to-write days. For my last thankfulness post, I am skipping to the next holiday I celebrate - because I am really thankful for that one.

I think these clips speak for themselves. And for myself, as well. The Christmas Season simply must be ushered in with song, as well as hot chocolate and mistletoe and twinkling lights, and everything else that wraps us up in the happiness of the holiday. I am not embarrassed to admit that I am musically stuck a generation back. In fact, I wear that badge it rather proudly. So, in this vein, and because each song invites inimitable recollections, I am thankful for:

1. Wham! - Last Christmas
   
   
   
2. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
3. Sarah McLachlan - Song For A Winter's Night
   
4. And here's a bonus that might explain why my husband and kids frequently catch me humming and singing : Abba - Thank You For The Music

If I listen Carefully, Maybe I can Hear

I've been attending a Family History Sunday School class at church for the past several weeks.You want to know the reason I decided to take that class? I felt obligated. In our church, there is a lot of emphasis on genealogy. I've never even filled in a four-generation pedigree chart, so I figured I'd better learn how, or at least feign interest.

Over the years, I've observed family and friends climbing into family trees and pouring over hard-to-read records, sending letters to that far-away great-aunt who just may remember the name of a cousin's wife's grandfather's first wife and slamming books closed in the face of a seemingly impenetrable dead end. I've also witnessed eyes light up when an old death certificate appears out of nowhere, seen lips curve up as old letters revealing a complete courtship resulting in marriage are read, listened to laughter as "remember whens?" are exchanged, and felt the joy and thanks when a previously unknown family member or the missing link in an extended family line is discovered.

I thought adopting genealogy as a hobby was limited to the silver-haired set. And I assumed that those dedicated souls who were compelled to spend hours searching through old papers, traipsing through antiquated cemeteries and peering at microfische only pursued and rejoiced only in their own family lines.

My view is changing. Genealogy is not the prerogative of the the human subset aged 60 and older, and it's not limited to me finding people with my own last name. It's about more than simply tracing lines from Sarah to William and figuring out how Ellen fits in and how many children John had between his three wives. It's about family. Not just mine, either. It's about your family, too. It's about grabbing branches near and far and eagerly plucking whatever fruits are offered. Even though I can't say I've been bitten by the bug, I'm no longer pretending to be interested genealogy. If the bug does bite me, I don't plan on applying a healing salve in the hope that the bump will disappear.

1. I am thankful for my beliefs about the importance of family, which include the knowledge that family relationships don't end when death separates us from those we love. We believe that Heavenly Father's intention is for us (everyone - not just members of the LDS church) to literally be a family forever. As I sit here typing, my girls are bickering and driving me up the wall. I'm sure my blood pressure is rising and I can't wait until their bedtime. Even so, the comforting promise of an eternal family makes me happy!
   
2. I am thankful for the Family History class I've been going to and that it has piqued in me an enthusiasm about genealogy.
   
3. I am thankful that I have an opportunity to learn about - and perhaps even get to know - people in my family who have lived before me. If listen carefully, maybe I can even hear them whisper secrets that will help me find them.
   

Oma-yee-haw!

Oma-yee-haw! Sometimes, when I think of Omaha, the images and words swirling through my mind could be equally applied to any western cattle-town - from a hundred or so years ago. Sorry, Omaha-ites. But Kansas City could be categorized in the same file. And I like it here. And really, Omaha is home to Creighton University (does anyone even call it by it's complete name?), which is highly regarded (and it has a great meteorology program, I hear.) Omaha is also the setting for Henry Doorly Zoo (which I enjoy even more than KC's) and Boys Town and, as I discovered last night, its Old Market.

We went to Omaha with some friends this weekend so we could attend the Winter Quarters Temple. It was one of those crazy weekend trips that almost wasn't. But it was. Car problems, issues with hotel reservations and plain old poor-timing almost kept us away. But we went. And I am grateful for that. Just being with my husband at a place that represents, to us, the promise of peace and incomprehensible joy is something that doesn't happen too often, so I'll eagerly take those moments when I can.

1. I am thankful for temples and for the way I feel when I am inside one.
2. I am thankful for good friends to go on a quick temple trip with. It made a great opportunity even better!
3. And I am thankful for Omaha - because that is where the Winter Quarters Temple is.

It's Vintage!

1. I am thankful for salvage yards. Going to one is like going to a charming antique shop and finding a delightfully antiquarian item, except salvage yards are a little greasier. And you have to bring tools.
   
2. I am thankful Ryan is the salvage yard master.
3. I am thankful that for about $35 (and the perfect vintage find), my car works again.
   

Which One Are You?

It's easy to list three things I'm thankful for today:

1. Family, who are not just family - they're also friends.
2. Friends who aren't just friends - they're family, too.
3. Delicious food to feast upon with loved ones I call family and friends.

SomeThings You Might Not Know

The Fountain of All, um....Things Interestingly Explained spouted forth this morning. This particular source of information is rather like an unpredictable volcano. Sometimes, smoke or ash appears to be drifting out from the dome's peak and you prepare for an outpouring of whatever it is that's going to spew forth. Other times, you're just completely taken off-guard by tidbits abruptly tossed about. Today, Fount Annie's elucidation was decidedly amusing. And I am grateful for all three observations.

1. I am thankful that Annie apparently remembers little things I say. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror this morning, taking in the bright aqua sweater she was wearing, and reinterpreted something I occasionally say to her. In Annie's words: "Blue brings out the color of your black eyes. See? My eyes is blue today."
2. I am thankful that Annie uses logic by taking an assertion and building upon it (even if it makes no sense to me): "Blue brings out your teeth, too. See? Look at my teeth."
3. I am thankful that Annie willingly shares her conclusions: "And your nose. Blue brings out the color of your nose. In your snot."
   

About That MRI...

It was normal. The MRI, I mean. And I am glad of that. The back story here is that Ryan had an MRI last week (because after you've had a headache for, like, a year, you sometimes decide to see a specialist.) And Ryan, being the guy that he is, decided to look at his MRI on the computer at home. If you've have no training in reading MRIs (and as you all know, Ryan is not a radiologist) you might interpret the pictures incorrectly. Or at least not accurately. That makes for a fun weekend! But luckily, today, the neurologist called and told Ryan his MRI is normal.

1. I am very thankful for normal MRI results!
2. I am also thankful that Ryan is a fix-it guy. Tell him something is irreparably broken or that to repair it will cost a lot of money, and Ryan will take that as a challenge to prove it can be fixed, and without breaking the bank.
3. And I am also thankful for the kind of friend that Ryan is. He can sometimes seem a little stand-offish, but I've seen the things he quietly does for people he cares about. I think he's a pretty good guy.
   

Police Beat

Click the image above to read. I'm too lazy to fix it.

Another Sixer...

You know, I actually thought about my three things yesterday, and several times I nearly sat down at the computer and shared them with you. But obviously, I didn't. At least I am not scrambling for 6 items I am grateful for today. Wait. Did that come out right? I may have made it appear that I am desperately trying to come up with three things to express thanks for each day, as if doing so is a grievance. Well, honestly, sometimes I do have to rack my brain. Which has made me realize something, and it is the first item I am going to list:

1. I am thankful for the Attitude of Gratitude Challenge, because it makes me think. And appreciate. Even - or maybe especially - on those days when it really is pretentious to put on that attitude of gratitude and wear it proudly. Plus also (I am channeling a bit of Junie B. Jones here) I need the reminder that it's okay to be specifically thankful for the trivial and seemingly inconsequential things in my life. True gratitude does not have to be expressly reserved for the earth-shaking, life-changing, I-can't-believe-how-blessed-I-am bestowals. Between you and me? The truth is that in my life, most "big" blessings parade around disguised as things of little consequence, and too often, I brush them aside, failing to see beyond the surface. It's up to me to acknowledge the infinite goodness and wisdom of my Heavenly Father, who showers me with blessings large and small. Blessings are blessings, whether I recognize them or not.
2. I am thankful for Junie B. Jones, or maybe it's Barbara Park I am thankful for. At any rate, within the past four or five years, hours of enjoyment have been centered around this wily kid. I think Ryan and I have enjoyed reading them aloud as much as Emi has enjoyed first listening to us read from this entertaining series, and then reading them herself. And Annie has had fun with these books,too, even though Annie's idea of being read to is sitting for no more than five minutes and flipping the pages in no particular order (forward, forward, backwards, forward, backwards, etc.), and forcibly shutting the book when she's had enough. Reading by herself means to look a a couple of pages, maybe scribble on them with whatever writing implement is close at hand, then try to rip pages from the spine. (Consequently, we don't read with Annie nearly as much as we do with Emi.)
3. I am thankful for yesterday's church meetings. In our church, members of the congregation are given assignments at various times. These assignments include speaking on a given topic to the whole congregation, or teaching a class that is based on age. (Everyone 18 and up qualifies as the same age, in case you're wondering.) So sometimes, talks or lessons may be delivered by members who have captivating skills of oration. Other times, speakers or teachers may have a much less dynamic delivery style. But the thing is, it's not about who is at the pulpit, or how a speech or lesson is delivered that makes it powerful to me. It's what the message is and how I receive it. Sometimes, the instruction that is shared in a way that would certainly be criticized by professional presenters is the most powerful. Yesterday, I heard what I needed to hear, the way I needed to hear it. I'm glad I was listening.
4. I am thankful for the great group of women I work with as the secretary in the Young Women's program at church.
   
5. Laughter, plain and simple, is something I am very thankful for.
6. I am thankful for Spot Shot.
   

Put Down Those Scissors!

It's been a busy Saturday. And yes, on this catch-up day, I've fallen further behind on my list of things I had hoped to accomplish this week. And no, I am not going to catalog those here. Never-the-less, there is much to be grateful for today, including:

1. Dim Sum. And good friends to enjoy it with. And it's especially nice when one of those friends is a Dim Sum expert and can tell us what everything is before we bite into it.
2. That not every school week ends with a note sent home from the teacher, which tally's as my ever-so-obedient child's infractions: (1) not listening to directions, (2) misbehaving for the classroom aide, (3) bringing rocks in from recess, (4) misbehavior in the hall, (5) playing with own clothes in the classroom and (6) licking her reading book.
3. Hair-dressers who squeeze me in on a busy Saturday afternoon after receiving my frantic phone call Friday night, which is hastily made upon discovering that the kid mentioned in #2 has grabbed a pair of scissors and decided to cut her own hair instead of paper.
   

Today Is Friday, Right?

The weekend is upon us. Yeah!!! Not that the weekend signals a romantic candle light dinner, or anything like that. And we don't have a standard matinee time at the movie theater where we enjoy a few hours of quality family time. (We don't to movies very much, or at all, if you really want to know the truth). I'm not packing for a weekend trip or heading off on a grand adventure. We don't have outstanding weekly traditions that I am preparing for (except for church at nine o'clock on Sunday morning), like brunch or sleeping in on Saturday morning (but a girl can dream, can't she? I know, I know - just not on Saturday morning.).

We have a couple of days to fall farther behind with all the things we figured we'd accomplish by Saturday night, and on Sunday, we'll be mentally adding to the already overloaded list of plans and tasks for the following week. At least this is how it seems to be for Ryan and me.

But it's the weekend all the same! It's like a beautifully wrapped gift we can't wait to open. And I really like the promise and excitement two days of each week bring. I am so thankful that:

1. The weekend is here. (It is Friday,today, isn't it?)
2. The unwelcome grey clouds and the uninvited drizzle they brought with them have taken leave for a few days.
3. I feel content. Right here, right now. It's a nice feeling.
   

Is This Cheating?

Every single person on this clip - and there are more then three - fills me with gratitude, maybe because they remind me of being thankful.... for being thankful! I don't know their names (except one), so I can't list them, but from the mom and cute daughter to Dallin H. Oaks to the-guy-with-the-skateboard (there's 3!) and everyone in between, my heart's happiness has grown.

Again???

I am straggling today. Not for anything to be thankful for, mind you. I'm just finding it difficult to post my daily list. Which is rather odd, considering how much time I pass each day, fingers on the keyboard, eyes glued to the monitor. But that brings me to six things (today and yesterday) I am thankful for:

1. The prevalence of the home computer.
2. Al Gore, for inventing the internet. (Does he really still think the internet is his brainchild?)
3. High speed modems.

On a more serious note (although I am genuinely thankful for the technologically-rich age in which we live) I am incredibly blessed by intangibles that are far from negligible. Maybe these things are harder to express gratitude for because of the abstract extent of joy. Sometimes, immeasurable amounts are the most defining. I am tremendously thankful for:

1. Family Home Evening. In case you don't know what this is, I'll paraphrase: we set aside one evening each week to do activities that strengthen us as a family spiritually, create family memories, and increase unity and love. And if you joined us for an evening, you would see that our FHEs do not always fit that definition. And you may even wonder about the outcome. But we're trying, and our girls look forward to our Monday nights. And that's what I'm thankful for.
   
2. Family Prayer. I'm thankful for the rote prayers. I'm thankful for the prayers that center on pets or toys. I'm thankful for the rushed prayers in the car on the way to school. I'm even thankful for the prayers where everyone is fidgety. I'm thankful for family prayer because it means we are a family.
   
3. Family Scripture Time. It's most definitely not a time of great scriptural insight and study. In fact, sometimes that daily 10-20 minutes is colored with an unflattering palette of impatience, distraction, and snappish behavior. I have to remind myself that we're not setting aside time each day - when we might prefer to be doing something else - for the purpose of learning scripture stories or memorizing important verses. We read together from Book of Mormon and from the Bible or Doctrine and Covenants each day to teach to Emi and Annie (and to reiterate to ourselves) what is of uncompromisable value to us. I know that sometimes, the only way I can get through difficult experiences and keep my faith anchored in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to read from words written hundreds and thousands of years go. And to keep reading. And to offer up prayers to my Father in Heaven. And to keep praying. And hope that answers and comfort and happiness will come. And I also know that sometimes, the only way to truly express my thanks for answers to my invocations, for preventing me from becoming a casualty of the storms we all go through, is to read those words written long ago. And to offer prayers. And to keep reading. And to keep praying.

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." 2 Nephi 25:26

And For The Dog....

You know, my kids have fantastic imaginations. Or else a terrific perception of an alternate reality. Except I'm not always sure they understand that it's a substitute realm.... I mean, sometimes I wonder, does Emi really believe we've been infiltrated by aliens? Or at least one particular extra-terrestrial life-form? She provides pretty convincing evidence supporting her beliefs, but I'm still holding a healthily skeptical point of view. As for Annie, I just don't see how she is both Cocoa's mother and sister (It's not a trinity. Would it be called a doublity?). In fact, several days ago I reprimanded Cocoa and Annie rebuked me: "You don't talk to Cocoa like that! You're not her mother. I am!" Well, I guess as long as the dog learns her boundaries, it doesn't matter who her mom is. Whatever dimension they participate in, my girls provide excellent fodder for my memoir. Oh, do you want to know what it's going to be called? Switched at Birth: The True Story of a Scandinavian Princess. I wrote this paragraph to precede my thanks for:

1. Alien hunters in the form of 10-year-old girls.
2. The kind of mother/sister who wants to get a purple Christmas tree for her four-legged daughter/sibling.
3. Bedtime for the above-described beings.
   

I'm Falling Behind...!

Aaahhh! I promise that I at least think about wonderful things in my life each day, even if I neglect to share with my dear reader(s?). Today, I suppose I should list nine things. In no particular order, I am thankful for:

1. Entertaining blogs.
2. Entertaining friends who author those entertaining blogs.
3. Quiet afternoons.
4. Guanfacine. Oh boy, am I glad for that! (Annie + irascibility + aberrance + guanfacine = bearable.)
5. Imitrex going generic. Now Emi's migraines can cost as little as $1.17 a pop, instead of $8.33 each.
6. Peppermint-scented candles.
7. Brownies. Both kinds - the ones you can eat and those mischievous, playful pixies.
8. Online banking.
9. A husband thoughtful enough to drop me at the entrance to the church on a rainy Sunday morning.
   

All Creatures Great And Small

My big brother stopped by yesterday, en route from Nibley, Utah to Huntsville, Alabama. He didn't stay long, only from early afternoon to just before six this morning, but I am so glad he was here. He's very entertaining, has lots of adventures, and even the most seemingly mundane events and people become hilariously charming when illustrated by his descriptions. Too bad Ryan is out of town and missed the fun! While I was getting the girls ready for school this morning, I was thinking of my family - my siblings, in particular - and....they were just happy thoughts. So today, I am very thankful that:

1. My siblings and I genuinely enjoy spending time together. I know I look forward to being with them, and I think they like seeing me, too. And not just because I'm 1100 miles away. They all live within 2 hours or so of each other (well, not Michael, anymore, since he's moving, of course) and they seem to enjoy regular get-togethers. I'm very lucky, because despite the years of squabbling and pettiness and fighting that all kids do when they are growing up, undeterred by the hurtful things we have done to each other (and not just as kids, I'm afraid), we still like each other. We really like to be with each other. And apparently not every family is like that.
2. Even though we didn't have pets until I was a teenager (because I was absolutely terrified of dogs), we (my parents and siblings) are all dog people now. And so is Ryan's family. Not that I think everyone should be a dog person. Because I don't think that. I mean, hey, I'm not a cat person (which I was, as a child. Funny how life flip-flops. Hmm.) so I understand that you either like a particular animal or you don't. Which is fine. (If you are at my house and would prefer that my dogs be outside or away from you, and I am clueless regarding that matter, just tell me. I won't be offended.) Anyway, back to why I am glad I am related to dog people: because it's one aspect where we don't think every other family member is nuts. We share the happiness and sadness, thrills and jitters, of taking pets into our hearts. We may poke fun at the notion of buying dog treats at a gourmet doggy bakery, or at a related mutt getting ridiculous Christmas gifts, but isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? You know, now that I think of it, maybe the sense of camaraderie actually stems from the recognition that we are all a little nuts? At least we're in this together. Safety in numbers, you know.
3. Ryan is coming back from D.C. today. (He's flew out at 12:05 p.m. yesterday and won't be back until after nine tonight, all for a one-hour meeting at 10:00 a.m. today. And it's been cold and drizzly in the capitol city. I think he would have preferred being regaled by his intrepid brother-in-law.)
   

Remember Again.

My feelings about this day haven't changed, and think I versed them rather well last year, but I'll let you decide. Can I add my brother to my list? He's not old. He's not grizzled. He doesn't talk about awards and honors. He didn't relish in the broken country he saw, didn't like the fact that he had to be there, but he did it anyway. (Indeed: courage, honor, duty - right, Michael? Inside joke. Sorry, I just couldn't resist.) He's a vet, too. And I'm thankful for that.

Evanescence

I just can't seem to get my posts up on the day they are supposed to be proudly displayed for all to read! It's just after nine on Tuesday morning and I am thinking about six things I am thankful for (three for yesterday, three for today.) It should be easy such an easy task, don't you think? Honestly, countless trivial things that bring me happiness flitter in my head. But some are so inconsequential, I hesitate to list them, because it might seem as if I am trite or *gasp* trying to be glib. But if something brings a smile to my lips or happiness to my heart, I shouldn't be afraid to express my contentment. So here I go. I am thankful for:

1. Stores that carry Ghiradelli chocolate (60% cocoa content or higher) for my baking (and snacking) pleasure. Nestle and Hershey may have a stronger hold on the grocery market, but not on my taste buds!
   
2. Cake flour. Until I used it the first time, I didn't realize the difference cake flour makes in baked goods. You want your dessert to have a velvety, melt-in-your-mouth texture? Use cake flour.
3. Goodnites (disposable training pants). Because not every child is potty trained by the time she weighs 48 pounds. And most disposable training pants don't fit kids past 40 or so pounds. But you know what? If the trade-off means having a child whose development falls in the realm of "normal" (which means having that lacking piece of that troublesome 9th chromosome in place) and missing out on all the richness that a disabled child brings, I'll keep my Annie and happily continue buying all the pull-ups she needs.
4. My library card. All the brainwashing that is directed at children, about books opening new worlds, etc., is still firmly affecting this girl!
5. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens... Um, I actually mean warm woollen sweaters. I haven't wrapped myself in a wool sweater yet this fall, but they are nicely folded in my drawer and, I like to think, eagerly waiting to be pulled out and put to good use.
6. The chance I get to read aloud with Emi most evenings. I say with and not to, because it's more than just reading. As much as I feel rushed to complete the bedtime routine so the light can be flipped off and I can have a few minutes for myself to unwind from whatever it is I do all day, I really enjoy sitting on Emi's bed with her and listening to her chat about her about her daydreams, about her frustrations, about friends and school and home. I know that one day, all too soon, she's going to tell me she doesn't need me to read with her, that she'll just get herself to bed. Tomorrow, I'll miss the time I'm in such a hurry to get through today. I need to remember that.
   

To Sleep On The Sabbath

Today's three things? Here they are:

1. I am thankful for Sunday afternoon naps. It's been a long time since I have had one of these, but certainly not for lack of trying! But today, I experienced a small but significant miracle of sorts (that ties into today's number 3.) So what if the magic only lasted 30 or 40 minutes?
2. Those yummy frosted pink and white animal crackers. With the sprinkles. They are a grocery-store indulgence I let my girls choose every once n a while.
3. The sound of siblings playing happily!
   

Date Night!

Ryan and I go out on dates almost...NEVER! Maybe it's a reflection of our whirlwind courtship - we didn't really date then. I mean, how many dates can you go on in a month when one of you is a couple of states away for two of those weeks? We basically hit it off, got engaged and got married - so why bother dating now?

Oh? What's that you say? Spending time together on an actual date now can bring us back to the spontaneous kids we were then? Well, remember where spontaneity can lead you - to the alter in 3 quick months! But hey, it's worked out just fine for Ryan and me. We still want to date each other, after all!

But seriously, friends, I am thankful that:

1. Ryan took a chance on me 12 and 1/2 years ago and is still game for taking chances.
2. We continue to make spontaneous decisions. Not all the time, but enough that 3 days in a foreign country together, Ryan's question of, "Wanna move here?" could be seriously answered with, "Yeah! Why not? It could be fun!"
3. Tonight, we're going on a date!
   

And For The Birthday Girl....!

Once again, I am a day late (and a dollar short?) with the gratitude list, but never-the-less, here it is:

1. Without her, I would be sans husband and little girls. And yesterday (November 6th) being her birthday brought that point to mind, so I have to say how thankful I am for my mother-in-law. And not just because her DNA is part of 3 people I absolutely adore. I am thankful for Carolyn because she is an amazing woman who has done amazing things (Ryan, course, being one of them.) Happy Birthday and thanks for all you do for me!
2. Cozy evenings spent at home, not really doing anything in particular, and that being enough.
3. Indian Summers.
   

Sometimes, Yeast Doesn't Make Dough Raise

Sometimes, yeast just doesn't work right. It's like all the oomph has fizzled out. It's gone flat. Literally. I'm sure you can infer that I attempted to make something today which called for yeast. The working kind. Not the kind I used. Yeah. So, without further preamble, I must say, simply, that I am thankful for:

1. Yeast. Live yeast, that is. And then I can be thankful for light apple fritters, instead of heavy ones.
2. The delicious anticipation that comes when one is looking forward to sampling something which promises to be good. I mean, if it smells good, it should taste good, too. Right? Preparing your taste buds with a sense of expectancy just adds a happy little promise to an otherwise typical fall day.
3. Heavy, rich cream. And clotted cream, too.
   

And Three More On Four!

My three items that fill me with gratitude today are quite unrelated, except for the fact that they are all good things. And have nothing to do with Martha Stewart.

1. While I am not grateful for sleepless nights filled with sleepless kids, barking dogs, and a husband waltzing home (okay, forcibly dragging his feet and practically falling over) at 1 a.m. (because sometimes in the IT industry, IT doesn't do what it's supposed to all on its own - save time, work effectively, be self-sufficient - and IT people have to put in a few extra hours. And then a couple more.), it's nice to take the opportunity to catch a few winks (or a couple of hours) of much-needed slumber while kids are at school, dogs are outside, and hubby is a work. Especially when said hubby has seen the house and knows it desperately needs some - or much - TLC and says, "You should go back to bed once we're all gone and sleep. All day, if you want to."
2. My little elephant. When my no-frills rice cooker went to the big electronic elephant graveyard in the sky, I though I'd replace it with a western-designed product. And if my family enjoyed hot, soggyy rice fresh from the steamer that turned brittle within a few hours, the Walmart special would have been fine. But that is not why I use a rice cooker! Who likes a mouthful of mushy rice? Or crunching down when expecting something tender? Not me, obviously. I am very fond of my culinary side-kick.
   
3. Pandora Radio. Kudos to Tim Westergren. Why simply work (that's what I pretend I'm doing when checking my email, paying bills, reading the latest headlines, perusing Facebook, improving my mind and warding off Alzheimer's playing Mahjong and Sudoku, etc.) on the computer when you can also listen to what you wish the radio would play?
   

Now, for Day Three....

I am lucky! I just saved Emi's precious webkinz dog, Fudge, from certain destruction at the jaws of the black dog. Fudge feels a little icky and a tag is partially chewed off, but the seams and stuffing are intact. I say I am lucky because had Fudge turned into a pile of ripped synthetic fur and slobbery white stuffing, I would have had to deal with the fall-out this afternoon - intense weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. But providentially, I happened to turn my head at a fortuitous moment. So that makes the first 2 things on my gratitude list very clear to me:

1. That I saved Frudge from Cocoa - hence, myself, from the theatrics of a melodramatic 10-year-old.
   
2. That we have a nice, fenced backyard where Cocoa will happily play for hours on this bright, sunny day, so I can have a few hours where I don't have to panic if I leave a closet door open or have failed to do a proper sweep of errant toys, papers, books, leather objects, etc.. (I love that dog. I do. But she can be a handful - no, armful!)

And here's the set-up for the third thing that makes me grateful today: before school Emi was busily filling a shopping bag with boxed and canned foods to take to school for a food drive. I asked Annie if she wanted to take some cans, too. And then I wondered if she knew what a food drive was. I explained that sometimes people need help to get food to eat, perhaps because they've been sick or have been laid-off from work and can't find new employment. Annie interrupted and said, "That's what happened to Curious George."

"What?" I said. "Curious George got laid off?"

Annie responded with a sigh, "Yeah, Curious George got laid off from his job." (Who Knew! I should have suspected something, though, when I saw the Man-With-The-Yellow-Hat at a Halloween party with no monkey in tow.) Needless to say, Annie was quite happy to take food to school in the hopes of helping someone like poor Curious George.

No, the third item on my list today is neither Curious George nor Annie's cute quips (although those always warm my heart.) What I am thankful for is:

3. A pantry stocked with food, enough and to spare.

On the 2nd Day of Gratitude.....

I'm cheating a little bit here. I'm setting my 2nd day of gratitude to music and it's actually November 3rd. Let's just say that after driving to doctor's appointments, making a quick pit stop at Hen House (yes, that is the actual name of a grocery store. Not quite as inventive as Piggly Wiggly, but obviously, that name was already taken....), rushing home to eat dinner within a 20-minute window, racing to meet Ryan and going to a birthday party, then returning home and getting the girls to bed, I didn't feel like sitting at the computer. But the reason why I'm not entirely cheating is that i shared my three things verbally last night. And I have witnesses! So, the three things for which I felt much gratitude yesterday were:

1. Cake. Sunshine Cake, to be exact
2. Ice-cream (cookie dough)
3. My friend Jennifer's birthday.
   

Attitude of Gratitude 2009

It's that time of year when simple gratitude is too often overwhelmed by turkey and pumpkin pie, first snowfalls and striped scarves, whispers and giggles, excitement and dread over the days of celebration of twirling our way. This is the perfect set-up for the Thanksgiving Challenge. The gist of the challenge is to each day list three things for which one is grateful throughout the month of November. And each entry should be original - for example, one can be thankful for chocolate for 30 days, but it can only be listed once. The friend who issued this challenge has forewarned of possible side effects:

Please note that challenge participation may result in any or all of the following:
- you will be surprised at all the Lord has done for you
- angels will attend
- you will feel help and comfort
- you may find yourself singing as the days go by
- your doubts will fly

So on this first day of November, I would like to share three things I am thankful for:

1. Jen's Attitude of Gratitude Challenge. To paraphrase one of my daughters, it will help me think what it is I need to remember to be grateful for.
2. The delicious smell of Fall - you know, when the autumn air is perfumed with a scent that is rich and crisp and golden?
3. Two tiny apple seeds deposited lovingly in a carved-out Halloween pumpkin. (So the pumpkin can grow into a tree that has apples!)
   

Do You Ever Get Tired Of The Universe?

Do you ever contemplate the unknown? When you look at the night sky and see countless stars twinkling above you, do you ponder the infinite universe? Do you ever wonder if somewhere, there's another being sitting on a grassy orb, breathing life-sustaining oxygen and wondering if you exist?

Thanks to Emi, these aren't merely questions we ruminate over on occasion. It's accepted as reality in our home that aliens do exist. In fact, they walk and talk among us. They are probably benevolent, but sometimes, given certain, er, evidence (like barbies thrown at at an older sister's head, or a secret stash of M&Ms that is suddenly not so secret and not so stashed and dabs of yellow and red and orange smearing supposedly innocent fingers (M&Ms, contrary to their jingle can, in fact, melt in your hand!), we do wonder if there might be a tiny, but not insignificant, malicious streak carried by these life forms that parade around as little sisters. (We do, after all, have laboratory proof that Annie's genetic make-up is not quite the same as the rest of us that live in the brown brick house.)

So the whole alien thing is frequently referred to (sometimes subtly, other times, not so much) when we are gathered around the kitchen table or curled up on the sofa or playing in the backyard or when we are driving in the car...., which is why it came as no surprise when, a few weeks ago, the girls and I were gazing at puffy white trails traversing a bright blue sky. Ever-curious Annie asked what they were. She disregarded my short explanation of airforce jets, instead deciding it must have been aliens. And would you, my friend, like to know why aliens raced across the sky that particular day? As Annie so blithely asserted, "Oh, they're probably tired of our universe."

It Tastes Like....Arkansas?

Guess whose mouth these words popped out of:

Dinner last night was comprised of rolls still steaming from the oven {Rhodes, of course, because when I put something in the oven, I feel like I'm actually baking (as opposed to just pulling an item out of the freezer and letting it rise for a few hours and stopping short of sliding said item in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.) And that makes me feel like I've done something I'm supposed to do for my family (which is feeding them a well-planned meal. And I did plan well - I remembered to take the rolls out of the freezer in time to eat with the meal for which they were intended!)}. And I made soup.

Really, this soup I actually made. From scratch! With chicken broth (which was not from scratch. Bullion cubes. I don't boil chicken bones. I don't even buy chicken with bones - it's boneless, skinless breasts for me!), chopped onion, diced garlic, a bit of salt and pepper, a dash of nutmeg, some milk, and fresh cauliflower. Oh, and cheese. The soup wasn't too difficult and I really needed to do something with that head of cauliflower that had been rolling around the produce drawer (nice imagery, huh.)

Apparently, when Ryan called on his way home from work and asked what we were eating for dinner (he used to ask me what I was cooking for dinner, then he realized that perhaps he was being a bit presumptuous, assuming I was making something different everyday. So one day he amended his question to asking what we were eating), I told him I was making a broccoli soup. And I guess one of my girls overheard me, because after Ryan arrived home and established that it was cauliflower, not broccoli soup, and we began eating, this child swallowed a spoonful and announced, "Yeah - it tastes like Colorado to me!"

When A Fish Is Named Salmon

We had a nice, sauteed salmon for dinner again last night, which reminded me of this unpublished entry (written on August 19th) that I intended to post about a month ago:

A few nights ago, I sauteed a nice fish for dinner. It was already filleted - no handsome head or bulging eyes or stiff tail (thank goodness!) on display, hinting at a former glory as a champion swimmer against a blasting current. It was simply a nice cut of fish prepared with a smattering of olive oil (but I don't think it was EVOO - just the regular non-extra virgin olive oil. Sorry, Rachel Ray.) After I dished a delicious-looking piece of it onto my plate, Annie's eyes opened wide as she exclaimed, "It's a dead fish!"

"Yes, it is. It's salmon," I replied. I was about to explain how tasty it was and that it was good brain food, but before I got a chance to, Annie then said, "Oh, that's his name? Salmon?" And before I could think of what to say to that statement, she rather matter-of-factly informed me "You can't pet him," and went back to eating her own meal.

Super Novas

"Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward ... but it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later."

"The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life."

"I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become."

"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

Excerpts above from Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered at Stanford University on June 12, 2005.

In a similar vein, Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams:



Condolences and God's peace to the family of my cousin, Evan Nebeker.

I also think of my brother-in-law, Derek Jackson, a super nova who burned bright and fast, but whose light yet extends to the earth.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And here's to all the adventures ahead.

Then There WasThe Time I Went To The Hunting & Fishing Museum By Mistake....

I meant to go to the Deutches Museum. I was looking quite forward to an afternoon of learning interesting facts and gaining appreciation for many intuitive and creative individuals, all the while being filled with awe and wonder at the brilliance of mankind. Sounds like a nice afternoon, doesn't it?

I purchased my ticket at the rather unassuming front desk, thinking, Wow, only 3,0 Euros? They really want this museum to be accessible to the public! After wandering through 3 levels of inventive wildlife displays, artistically arranged cases of muskets and arrows, and beautifully carved old wooden sleighs (with realization dawning that perhaps this wasn't just one small section of the museum - this was the whole thing!), I began to suspect that I was not actually where I intended to be.



I was instead at the Hunting and Fishing Museum. Still interesting, but just not quite what was anticipated - although it does contain the world's largest collection of, er, stuffed animals and fish hooks. There just weren't any airplanes or copper engravings or the first automobile ever built (an 1886 Benz!) or demonstrations with electricity or glass-blowing, and stuff like that. I guess this is the risk one takes when one is not familiar with the language and decides if the building's sign (which proudly states Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum) contains the words "Deutsches" and "Museum," one needn't consider the other accompanying words (which, it seems, would read "Hunting" and "Fishing"!)*

*And besides, when we had strolled past the building an evening or two previously, Ryan had pointed to it and said, "I think that's the Deutsches Museum. You should go there."

Dachau

An old cement platform stands beside a set of abruptly ending train tracks. I can almost hear choked-back sobs and murmured whispers as hundreds of prisoners are unloaded like cargo and directed through an imposing gatehouse that heralds the entry into Konzentrationslager Dachau or KZ-Dachau, Nazi Germany's first concentration camp. Alongside the silent vibrations of thousands of invisible footsteps, I voluntarily walk through a gate that, wrought in iron, reads: Arbeit Macht Frei - Work will make you free. One-by-one, my feet fall upon hardened ground and cold cement foundations, taking a sobering step back into a dark history. Yet despite the emptiness within the walls of Dachau Concentration Camp, there is a triumphant echo that carries over its bleakness.As I tread, I wonder whose paths my footsteps trace? I listen to records reported by Dachau survivors - men of flesh and blood - who really faced starvation, beatings, being forced to labor despite illness or pain, or made to act as human guinea pigs in horrendous medical experiments. Voices gravely with age do not disguise the aching rawness of long-borne memories.

Inside walls of brick and barbed-wire, I crane my neck to view one of many guardhouses and cringe as I note the openings where a gun barrel would rest - conveniently pointing to the prison yard. I stand on the same square where roll-call was held. The sun is shining brightly and I feel its hot rays upon my back; I shiver as I imagine icy winds and cold, pelting rains penetrating tattered coats and ragged shirts. I peer through a barred opening in a thick wooden door closing off one of many small cells where prisoners where held for interrogation and discipline. I flinch at the thought of punishment extracted on a commanding officer's whims.

The originals have been torn down, but I feel a suffocating tightness in the rebuilt barrack, where Jews, Catholics and Communists, among other defined groups, were housed - crammed into bunks to rest so they would be fresh for unending, back-breaking labor the next day. I experience representations of the degradation forced upon men and women who lived up to their convictions, even as they were dying - some slowly, some quickly - because of those creeds.

My feet are planted on a cement floor in an open room in the crematorium - Barrack "X" - where emaciated prisoners were informed they would take showers. I see the ovens where the stank of decaying flesh was reduced to ashes. I pause in front of the firing range where bullets, not sickness or despair, ended a life.

A barrage of thoughts and emotions accompany me throughout my tour of this prison camp. Conflicting within me is a deep sadness and a profound happiness. I am intensely indignant of the horrors of the holocaust that were enacted within the very walls around me, yet I am sensitive of a profound happiness and appreciation for the indomitable human spirit. I don't want to forget how I feel at this moment!

I head back to the gatehouse and reflect upon the intensity of each moment I have experienced. I pause as my eyes take a final sweep across the yard, and I wish I could somehow show, in a verifiable way, what I feel inside; words and pictures emote a stark fraction. Maybe I can't elucidate it all, but I can try.

And I freely pass through the iron gate once again as I leave.

I'm the Queen of the Castle!

The Sunday I spent in Germany was Castle Day. A fitting way to spend the Sabbath, if you're going to eschew church in favor of sight-seeing, right? (I know, I know: I'm just trying to justify our absolutely enchanting excursion into the Bavarian countryside and Tyrolean Alps!)

Prior to my trip, I read that there are over 25,000 castles in Germany. There are indeed castles everywhere - albeit in various conditions! All that might remain of some castles may be a crumbling wall or turret. Some might be in the midst of a renovation. Others may appear museum-like (in which case, they probably are.)

Can I just say that it's a truly amazing feeling to stand beside these amazing stone and brick structures and think, that for hundreds of years, people (probably many with aching backs, stringy hair, and minus a few teeth), walked through the same gates, stepped on the same stones, and gazed up at the same sky. Their lives are far-removed from mine, but I wonder if we really aren't that different after all, beside the obvious physical disparities - like I have all my teeth, my hair is washed and brushed regularly, and at 37, I still have many healthy years left (I hope!).

I mean, did they stop to breathe in the scent of wildflowers? Did they laugh when their children laughed? Or did they wonder how they were going to accomplish in a day a series of nagging, yet necessary, tasks and then decide that maybe just getting through the day with their sanity intact would be triumph enough?

I can't help but think that yesterday's mothers understand me more than I realize. And if that's the case, I think history's princesses and paupers had to have been just as excited as I was to see all these breathtaking castles!

*Here's a funny thing that Ryan said as we were driving up and down very steep, winding, hair-pin twisting roads: "I didn't expect the roads to be so...alpine." I stared at him and responded (with perhaps more than a hint of incredulity in my voice), "Are you serious? We're in the Alps!"

Prepare For the Updates!

Yes, I realize it's been a month since I went to Munich (aah, good times!) and I haven't shared much about that wonderful opportunity with you, my legion of fans. Honestly, I wrote several blog entries - in between breathing the fresh German air and tasting the richness of South Bavarian life - while I thoroughly enjoyed my travels . I just haven't posted my thoughts yet. Why? Well, simply because, prior to this morning, I haven't taken the time to download and organize photos - and I wanted to paste a few pictures to my blog. So hang on - in the next few days, I promise to describe some highlights of my trip.

Rules We Live By

There are irrefutable rules governing the universe. We all know that the law of gravity means we can toss a ball as high as possible, but it will always fall back down to the earth. Two hydrogen particles atoms combined with one oxygen particle will always form water. We observe the rising of sun every morning and its setting every night, unfailing because of the constant rotation of the earth on its axis.

Some truths you may not know include these:

1. Emi will never be a morning person.
2. Annie, yo-yoing between silence and fits of giggles while behind closed doors, guarantees the existence of a mess.
3. Add one little black dog named Cocoa to no. 2 (above) and absolute chaos ensues.

It's important for me to remember that there are some basic laws I cannot change. I must not forget these omnipresent truths, so that I will simply not open the pantry door when I think Annie might be in there (based on the evidence of peals of laughter alternating with pregnant quietus.) This way, the harmony of the universe might endure, and even coincide with my placidity, because if I just resist the impulse to twist the doorknob and let that door remain snug in its frame, I won't find globs of crunchy peanut butter pasted to the door - and matted in Cocoa's fur! At least for a few minutes longer, ubiquitous concordance will reign.

Pop! Goes My Heart

You are gold and silv-e-e-er.... You know, sometimes nothing beats a good parody:



Yesterday, I watched Music and Lyrics (with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore) and I've been laughing inside (and out) all day. Now, you can hum and spin and laugh with me.

Lipstick Jungle

I thought Annie was busy playing with Emi and their cousin, Rachel. It seems I was wrong about that!

And Here's How It's Going For The Girls....

Sorry for the interruption in blogging about my Bavarian adventure, but since I got back to Utah (where the vacation started, remember) and have had to resume my mothering responsibilities, I haven't found much time - or energy, for that matter - to commandeer the keyboard. But the girls have had a marvelous time. Just ask Annie. Thanks to her, the girl cousins might get new carpet in their bedroom. And Bunky and Grandnan just might need to replace part of their kitchen floor!

When Germany Isn't Fun

Being sick was no fun. Worse is although it seems Allison just arrived here, she is already gone.

I love it here, but today hasn't been the same knowing when I go for dinner tonight Allison won't be joining me.

Update: Yes, I have an inkling how pathetic I must sound.

It's A Whole New World

It'a a whole new world. One filled with sleek, fast, sporty automobiles - BMWs, in fact. And that is not a bad thing. I will be the first to tell you that BMWs are not at the very top of my list of cars I want to drive, but they're not too far down that list, either.



(You seriously want to know? Well, the other day we drove by Munich's Bentley/Rolls Royce/Maserati/Koneg showroom. I think that of my list composed of purely dream vehicles, any work of art at that dealership would suffice, supplemented by basically any model, past and present, produced by Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Ferrari. See, this dream list is made up of cars that I think would be a bit difficult to just saunter into a showroom, point to and say, "I'd like to test-drive this car." And that exclusiveness is a driving factor - no pun intended - in creating my Absolutely Dreamiest Automobiles I'd Love To Drive List. As gorgeous and finely-crafted as Bremmen Motor Works products are, sitting behind the wheel of one their cars are within the realm of possibility. Figuratively. From a financial perspective? Well, let's just say that between a RR Silver Ghost and a BMW Individual, neither one will be parked in my garage.)




So, what I was going to say before I went off on my dream car vs. Dream Car spiel, is that I went to BMW Welt on Saturday, after I left poor, sick but recovering Ryan (who feels better today than he has in weeks, by the way) at our hotel. The thing about BMW Welt is that it makes you think that everyone should be driving beautiful, fast, well-equipped, specially-engineered automobiles. And I dare any of you to disagree! I"m not saying we all have to drive BMWs, but it would be nice if we all drove vehicles that fell under the category of luxury, don't you think?

Things Not To Do On Vacation

1. When you are traveling internationally all by yourself, you should not choose as your in-flight entertainment the movie Taken. But if you do happen to find yourself riveted by the plot and unable to turn off Liam Neeson et.al., and your body proudly hails the fact that you have lived 37 years, borne children, spent too many sleepless nights, lost hair, gained weight and are battling the tiny lines mapping your face, you should spend a few moments being thankful that you are no longer the capricious, energetic, wrinkle-free 20-year-old you used to be.

2. You shouldn't begin a trip on the brink of exhaustion, continue to work within the parameters of two distinctive time zones, suffer dehydration, and then succumb to a not-so-friendly virus. Or allow such a thing to happen to your husband. I'm just saying....

Having a Great Time!

Midnight In Munich

It's dark outside. I am tired. It's actually past midnight, and I have had a very long day. It started, um, yesterday? I went to bed Tuesday night and now it's night-time again, only it's Thursday night. I missed Wednesday night. It's gone. Swept away in Delta's vapor. I'll get that missing night back next week, of course, but in the meantime, I'm exhausted!

When the plane descended over the outskirts of Munich this morning, I chuckled to myself as I observed the patchwork countryside below and thought, It looks just like flying into Kansas City!
But it's really nothing like the city straddling Kansas and Missouri. Munich is....Munich. As to what I mean by that? Well, I guess you'll just have to keep checking back here. Bis spater!

Kansas City, Kansas to Munich, Germany via Nibley, Utah

You know, we Blocks don't do the big family vacation thing - meaning Ryan, Allison, Emi and Annie being in the same place at the same time for the unifying purpose of R&R combined with pure play - very often (Hello? 4 years, people. It's been 4 YEARS!). Sure, we'll do the occasional overnight stint, which tends to coincide with a ward temple trip. (I guess there's a reason to be glad that we have to drive a couple of hours to get the closest temple - so we can stay somewhere with a pool for one night!)

Well, today I am typing this entry in the comfort of Northern Utah's arid climate (I'm not sticky at all - even without the A.C. running! I don't miss the Midwest's humidity one bit!) while on the first leg of our trip - the via Nibley part. Okay, this is also the actual whole family part, because on Saturday, Ryan flies to Munich for two weeks - for business. Next Wednesday, I fly out to join him for one week - for pleasure! Without the girls! But trust me, they are still getting their holiday:

• the non-stop play-date (the best kind - the cousin kind - you know, the play date that ends temporarily when we pack them in the car to head back to Kansas, but will resume immediately when they see their cousins again next summer)
• night games in a neighborhood practically overrun by 3-4 feet tall life-forms (which is in direct contrast to our street back home)
• all-you can-eat-ice-cream (I am not kidding - you should see Bunky and Grandnan's freezer!)
• swimming lessons and 4-H classes
• etc. and etc.. (I always hear an echo of Yule Brynner when I see or hear that phrase.)*

For the rest of the month, I am in vacation mode. YESSSS! Some days (like today) will be carefree. Some days will be packed with places to go, people to see and things to do. Planes, trains, and automobiles - this trip is using them all! So you see, while we may not do these vacation things often, when we actually happen to, we do them in a big way. Stay tuned!

*Yul Brynner - the sexy bald guy parading around a lavish Siamese palace in The King and I, 20th Century Fox's 1956 Rodger's and Hammerstein's musical based on the questionably objective memoir of Anna Leonowen.

Happy Father's Day!

And you know who you are. I mean, you are reading this, after all. So of course, this salutation goes out to you. Collectively, to those who act as fathers (knowingly or not) and have touched Ryan, me, and our kids. Maybe you've been teachers or neighbors or just solid, upstanding citizens - anyway, thanks and Happy Father's Day.

Individually, to my Dad: I love you. And thank-you. And I can't wait to see you in a few weeks! To my father-in-law: thanks-for being Ryan's dad. 'Cause I like him - a lot, in fact. And you've had much to do to help him be that man that he is. And to Ryan: I'm the lucky one. I love you.

Happy Father's Day!

I Left My Bird in San Francisco?

Some of you may have seen news coverage on the bird (referred to as Swoops) that is ravaging the streets of San Francisco. Actually, it's pretty much one street corner.

Lucky for me, I spent last week in SF and allocated a substantial amount of time Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday watching this bird's antics. Exactly the definition of serendipity, I walked the sidewalks in search of a good meal, but came to know this noblest of creatures instead.



Follow Swoop's blog including news coverage, editorials and fan commentary at the Attack Bird Chronicles.

Pandora

I feel sapped of energy. It's not quite malaise, but I don't really feel like doing much. Except curling up with a good book (I've been enjoying thrillers lately, David Baldacci-type of stuff), maybe baking something gooey and chocolatey, or slipping a romantic comedy in the DVD player. I think the weather is to blame. Waking up to dull, grey skies 4 or 5 days in a row is just not refreshing! Yes, a thrilling storm with bolts of lightening dancing across the clouds accompanied by great, pounding rumbles of thunder is nice every now and then, but a prolonged period (more than a day or two) of this type of weather drains me. Does this happen to you, too?

I might have happened upon an antidote. It's too early to determine if I've rid myself entirely of this bout of laziness, but I think I'm on to something: Pandora. I've been intending for a couple of months now to personalize some stations for myself, and a few nights ago I put together a couple of stations. And today, although I won't claim that my 80's music station is exacting any sort of miracle, something nice is happening. My veins might not flowing with vim and vigor, but I definitely feel a little more pep this afternoon.

I guess this is a little plug for Pandora and an extension gratitude for Tim Westergren's vision. Because this afternoon, the gangs from New Order and the Cure, those rascally Pet Shop Boys, the cute Norwegian kids (a-ha, that's where their from!) and the twins from London who actually aren't (you know, those Thompsons), among others, are apparently just the company I've needed. Who knew unexpected visitors could be so great!

Please excuse me now, though. I'm going to spend some more time with my guests.

Just Chill...IN!

aIt's time to share some more of the silly things that pop out of my kids' mouths (verbal, not masticated, mind you,) particularly the words that tumble (and that is an apt description) between Annie's lips, because I figure these gems won't serve any purpose sitting in a dark vault and instead should be displayed for public enjoyment.

• Cocoa (the crazy puppy who Annie refers to as "my daughter" or "my-baby-sister-that-I-love-so-much" (seriously, ask Annie how many sisters she has and she'll likely tell you, "Two" or perhaps she'll even answer "Three," if she happens to lump Tessa - our other dog - in there. Hmmm. Is that why I've noticed some speculative raised eyebrows cast in my direction lately?) can be a little....rambunctious. Okay, a lot rambunctious. While Cocoa was running and jumping and spinning and slobbering yesterday, Annie testily admonished, "Chill in, Cocoa. Just chill in!"
• Can I just say that listening to Annie re-invent that popular phrase brings a slew of other Annie-isms to mind? I am particularly fond of "No Jose Way!"
• Skip this one if you don't appreciate potty-humor: Apparently, Annie believes she has a little family living in her bottom. The other day when I asked her if she was finished pooping, she said, "Just the mom and dad came out. The little ones are playing a game inside. They will come out later."
• Heading to a track meet, anyone? Listen for Annie to call out, "Ready. Set. Mark. Go!"

Lest you think that Annie alone brings such amusement to our home, I have to share an Emi classic. First, though, let me tell you that Emi tends to be a bit more considerate than Annie before charging ahead with her voice.

• Emi was almost 3 the first time she and I went to Carthage, Illinois. (For those of you who may not know, Carthage - population 2725 - is one of the dots on the map that connects places teeming with history of the early days of the LDS church.) I don't really know what I was expecting - maybe something a little more....quaint? Touristy? Charming? Granted, the day was overcast, so maybe that's why Carthage itself appeared so dusty and grey. Of course, nearly empty streets and sidewalks along with overgrown grass and boarded windows on a few houses and buildings did nothing to suggest much brightness existed in the town, anyway. Apparently Emi's impressions were not much fulgent more than mine, since she observed from her car seat, "Carthage is a lot like Walmart!"
  

What A Wonderful World

Says it all, doesn't it?